The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-12-23
Indiana's shaky Hill.


pEhS OF THE HOO5IER STAIR.
A Cambridge City Qnd } correspon
lent of the Cincinnati Enquirer OBJ
erves that during the recent natural
,as craze which swept over Indiana
md which has, to some extent, abated
o this immediate section, frequent
mention was made Of the feasibility |
Ind probable results of boring for the |
fluid on "Shaky Hill"
There are many who are positive in
heir belief that gas can be found there
and in abundance, too. There are
others who claim that it would be the
last place in the world for gas or oil,
bat it is certain that the locality or
''hill' is attended with very mysterious
The hill In question Is a part of a
low ridge of land running east and
west some two miles south, the bill,
comprising about twelve acres, being
southwest two and one.half miles, in
the northwestern corner of Fayette
county, aud lies about three hundred
yards from the j., M & l. railroad
track. The land was entered in 1916
by Thomas Reagan, whose son, Wiley
Reagan, settled upon tie hill in 1922.
Your correspondent met two gentle
men who probably knew more about
the circumstances surrounding the pc
culiar actions Of the hill, or rather
plateau, than any others. One, the
son-in-law of Wiley Reagan, said:
sThe land on which it is situated
was bought about sixty-6ve years ago
by Wiley Reagan, my father-in law,
an early settler, who improved the
farm and built log house or the high
est part of it, the part lying east OF
small creek. Soon after the family
occupied the house they discovered
that at intervals there was pronounced
disturbance of the hill, as if moved or
shaken by an earthqnake--this, too,
while other sections of the country
were undisturbed This continued or
several years, and finally increased and
became so marked that the Reagan
family became alarmed and built new
cabin on the west part of the farm
across the creek. This was done be-
cause they feared aud expected some
dire calamity would befall them should
they remain on the hill, not that they
were superstitious, as has been said,
but because they were afraid the land
would sink or break up-at least they
thought it safer on more stable ground.
fright here it may be said that In
several places in this county large
portions of ground are found which
look to have sunk or dropped below
the level of the surrounding region
The cabin was removed, aud there has
been no dwelling very near the hull
since. The character of the disturb
ances resembles the sensation produced
by an earthquake, perceptibly shaking
the house, various articles OF furniture
and especially the cupboard and Its
contents of dishes, etc. shaking the
clothes-lne, sometimes causing it to
fall, with it's load of washing. The
The disturbances, as far as known,
have not occurred as frequently a.
formerly but as the locality has tor a
long time been part of large, open
field, the chances for observation have
been limited, and it may have shaken
many times without having been felt
by persons.
son a number of occasions the house
nearest the hill, to the northeast, was
affected in a similar manner, and at
one time the cellar wall of this house
was badly cracked and rendered use
less. The peculiarities of this hill
that it has repeatedly shaken, and the
Phenomena stated actually took place,
is authenticated by many of Reagan's
nearest neighbors, among whom were
Samuel Baldwin, Joab Rains and
many others now dead, and of the
living, Mr.. Hopper, Samuel Morris,
I.inyille Ferguson and Milton Thorn.
, burg (the last two gentlemen are di
rectors of the First National Bank OF
this place..
"There is nothing peculiar or differ
ent from the ordinary in this or adjoin-
ing lands to point to anything strange
excepting large surplus spring at the
foot of the hill in quagmire that
seems to have no bottom"
In the last statement the gentleman
suggests theory to account for tht
strange behavior of the hill. 1t is
probable that the elevation has for its
foundation thin stratum of Niagara
rock resting on this bog. A slight
disturbance would cause this rock tr
vibrate, and this motion transferred to
the hill would produce decided shock
The gentleman further stated: "lr
more recent years persons livirg i'm
mediately west of the hill have noticed
an odor or coal-tsr in damp weather
when the wind blew from the east
Also, that in digging cellars, wells, etc.
large assures were found partly filled
with substances closely resembling
cinders, ashes, etc"
AT one time laborer was hired tC
dig a well near the house, but ate,
going down some twenty feet the
tools caused such hollow sounds thu
man came up instanter, declaring HI
wouldn't finish it, as he was afraid thu
''bottom would fall out
Mr.. Byram Baldwin, who owns th'
farm, states that to hls certain know
ledge the hill has been "shaky' 70
over fifty-seven years. He has exp ri
enced the peculiar sensations, and onl.
about two months ago his wife am
hired hand felt violent jar abou
four O'Clock in the morning. Thei
dwelling is about three-eighths OF
mile IRON a hill OF large appl
orchard set out by Mr. Reagan onl
one tree remains, the rest having die
or were cut down. One day in th
fall of 1888 nearly all the ripe apple
Il. were shaken from the tree by TIL
quaking of the earth. Mr.. Baldwi
says that while driving near the hi
Saturday night with his wife the
were startled by three sudde" fiash'
Of light, produced by balls of fire whic
shot up INTO the air one hundred fl
much like a sky-roeket. 1t is said O
good authority that this is OF frequel
occurrence, and it is no doubt cause
by the combustion of light carburettt
hydrogen, commonly called marsh ga
or lack o'-lanlern.